Environmental Concern and Environmental Action in Western Europe: Concepts, Measurements, and Implications

In modeling mass public attitudes towards the environment in Western Europe three hypotheses were tested: (i) Does problem pressure, i.e., the extent of exposure to pollution, or (ii) the emergence of postmaterialist values in advanced industrial societies, or (iii) social class explain the degree of environmental concern and environmental action in Western Europe? The author employed a Linear Structural Relations (or LISREL) model to test the hypotheses with data drawn from Eurobarometer 18. The findings show that, if we want to explain environmental concern, exposure to pollutants is the dominant explanatory variable. They also show, that if we wish to explain environmental action, the impacts of postmaterialism and social class are likely to prevail. Further research comparing results from Eurobarometer 18 data with Eurobarometer 25 data will investigate the intertemporal reliability of the research findings

Crowdsourced User-Testing

The presented thesis investigates facilitating software quality assurance in open source communities through a human computation platform. Inexperienced community members can contribute formalized user testing data, which is then aggregated and presented to the developers. The implemented prototype, named open crowdsourced user-testing suite (OPEN-CUTS), was evaluated in a usability study in the UBports Community. The viability of this approach has been demonstrated, and further goals for research and development are proposed

International Environment Threats through Transboundary Acidification: Nation-Level Positions within the International Environmental Structure

Cross-national environmental pollution can be understood as a limitation to national welfare caused by actors beyond the jurisdiction of a state. Both, the international environmental structure as well as domestic variables may account for the variation found across states with respect to international environmental regulation. The author wishes to explain why the European member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) subscribe to or refrain from the international regulation of the Long Range Transport of Air Pollutants (LRTAP), which is commonly called "acid rain." This study focuses on the question: Is there an international environmental structure (like international emission/deposition patterns) for sulfuric acidification in Europe which might influence the extent of international environmental regulation? Three perspectives on the international environmental structure are presented: 1. The deposition perspective: Each country is treated as a unit which receives pollutants from other countries. 2. The international trade perspective: Each country is analyzed as a participant in unwanted international "trade" of environmental pollutants. 3. The emission perspective: Each country is viewed as a unit which threatens other nations via exported emissions. The author used the results generated by the Regional Acidification and INformation Simulation model (RAINS) of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) to test hypotheses related to each of these perspectives. The analyses demonstrate that Central Europe is in a disadvantageous position from a deposition perspective. Furthermore, some East European countries are strongly externalizing their environmental problems because they are net exporters of pollutants; from an emission perspective it can be show that some East European countries are likely to be exposed to diplomatic pressure since their exported emissions pose substantial threats abroad. In conclusion, states find themselves in grossly unequal positions with respect to internationally caused sulfuric acidification. The paper concludes with a theoretical interpretation of the findings and points to options for future research

Leveraging Human Computation for Quality Assurance in Open Source Communities

Software developed under the open source development model (OSSD) has risen to significant importance over the recent decades. With more and more critical components being developed under the OSSD, the need for extensive quality assurance (QA) increases. This thesis investigates any potential for conducting formalized user testing through inexperienced volunteer community members under the OSSD. A human computation platform to aggregate such test results was designed and named open crowdsourced user-testing suite (OPEN-CUTS). A usability study of a prototype of OPEN-CUTS confirms the viability of this approach and points to potential future research questions.Software, die unter dem quelloffenen Entwicklungsmodell (Open Source Development Model, OSSD) entwickelt wird, hat in den letzten Jahrzehnten massiv an Bedeutung gewonnen. Immer mehr kritische Komponenten werden im Rahmen des OSSD entwickelt und der Bedarf für tiefgehende Qualitätssicherung (Quality Assurance, QA) steigt. Diese Arbeit untersucht, ob das OSSD Potenzial für formalisierte Nutzertests durch unerfahrene freiwillige Community-Mitglieder bietet. Eine Human Computation Plattform zur Sammlung solcher Testergebnisse wurde entworfen und trägt den Namen open crowdsourced user-testing suite (OPEN-CUTS). Eine mit einem Prototyp von OPEN-CUTS durchgeführte Benutzbarkeitsstudie bestätigt diesen Ansatz und zeigt mögliche zukünftige Forschungsfragen auf

Gentleman, Scholar, Visionary- A Living Tribute to Harold K. Jacobson

Tribute to Harold Jacobson

Gentleman, Scholar, Visionary- A Living Tribute to Harold K. Jacobson

Tribute to Harold Jacobson

Liability for climate change : a decentralized approach to long-term climate policy

An international agreement on deep emission reductions is unlikely to materialize in the near future. What can be done if we wish to further an ambitious long-term climate policy goal? This article proposes a liability system that starts with at least one frontrunner and allows itself to be taken to court for the damages related to its emissions. Such a system will be fully upscalable to larger liability pools, and allows the rule of law to prevent dangerous climate change to a reasonable degree. Furthermore, I suggest strict proportionality as a distributional rule to provide powerful incentives to mitigate emissions. In order to limit the challenge of time inconsistency, we need one actor to serve as the frontrunner. The EU can credibly serve this function if it chooses to do so; alternate frontrunners are welcome to join or build their own liability fund(s). Since all four components (ambitious benchmark, liability system, distributional rule, and prevention of time inconsistency) reinforce each other, it appears to be prudent to believe that we can make substantial headway towards achieving a low greenhouse gas future by the end of the century without having to rewrite politics as we know it

Sugar Daddies, Airbus solution or liability?

We seem to be confronted with multiple long-term policy challenges. Why do these problems come about and how can we limit their impact? A four step agenda for research and public policy shall be considered

A randomised trial of anti-GM-CSF otilimab in severe COVID-19 pneumonia (OSCAR)

Background: Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and dysregulated myeloid cell responses are implicated in the pathophysiology and severity of COVID-19. Methods: In this randomised, sequential, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, adults aged 18–79 years (Part 1) or ≥70 years (Part 2) with severe COVID-19, respiratory failure and systemic inflammation (elevated C-reactive protein/ferritin) received a single intravenous infusion of otilimab 90 mg (human anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody) plus standard care (NCT04376684). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28. Results: In Part 1 (n=806 randomised 1:1 otilimab:placebo), 71% of otilimab-treated patients were alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28 versus 67% who received placebo; the model-adjusted difference of 5.3% was not statistically significant (95% CI −0.8–11.4%, p=0.09). A nominally significant model-adjusted difference of 19.1% (95% CI 5.2–33.1%, p=0.009) was observed in the predefined 70–79 years subgroup, but this was not confirmed in Part 2 (n=350 randomised) where the model-adjusted difference was 0.9% (95% CI −9.3–11.2%, p=0.86). Compared with placebo, otilimab resulted in lower serum concentrations of key inflammatory markers, including the putative pharmacodynamic biomarker CC chemokine ligand 17, indicative of GM-CSF pathway blockade. Adverse events were comparable between groups and consistent with severe COVID-19. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28. However, despite the lack of clinical benefit, a reduction in inflammatory markers was observed with otilimab, in addition to an acceptable safety profile

Two cases of neural tube defects with dolutegravir use at conception in south Brazil

Dolutegravir (DTG) is amongst the most prescribed antiretrovirals worldwide and is recommended as first line regimen in most HIV treatment guidelines. Its use, although infrequently, had been associated to an increased chance of neural tube defects (NTD) in Botswana, Africa. Herein we describe two cases of NTD in women who conceived while taking DTG as part of their antiretroviral treatment in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil